You spent some time winterizing your house — but are you ready for spring time? The rain, wind, and cooler temps that happen from November through February can wreak havoc on a number of different essential systems and materials at your home. Even if you did your best to prepare for winter, you should still do a thorough once-over on your home in spring.
Not sure where to begin? Here are some tips for spring home maintenance. Whether you’re prepping your home for sale or just trying to protect its value for the future, your future self will thank you for an annual spring home clean-up.
Spring Home Maintenance Checklist
1. Look for Shifting Shingles
Tough winter conditions, even without snow, can do a number on your roof. And you want to spot any trouble before the spring showers begin. Even a single entry point may lead to serious water damage and mold in the future. If you experience either, it will be very difficult to sell your property. You don’t have to crawl around with a headlamp on, but getting a professional inspection or just getting up on a ladder and looking for displaced shingles is a good idea.
2. Walk the Perimeter for Foundation Cracks
Piles of leaves along your house can hide a lot during the winter. And you’re probably not using your yard as much. That means serious cracks and foundation issues can easily go missed. Schedule an annual walk around your home every spring to look for diagonal cracks and other signs of a foundation problem. Foundation issues should always be fixed by a professional.
3. Clean Out the Gutters
While you’ve been lounging next to your fireplace all winter, leaves and other debris have been collecting in your gutters. If you don’t clean them out in the spring, you could end up with some serious issues during the spring downpours. Your gutters could become too heavy and fall down altogether. And you won’t be directly water away from your home as intended. This could lead to water collecting right next to your foundation or ruining your landscaping.
4. Clean Up the A/C Unit
It’s about time to switch from the heat to the air conditioning. And no one wants to be left without circulating cool air during a Sacramento summer. Spring is a great time to check in on the outdoor unit for your air conditioning. Make sure it’s clear of debris and dirt; clean out the fans and identify any areas where animals or other outdoor elements could have caused damage while you weren’t running it this winter.
5. Try Out the Sprinklers
Now is also a great time to give your sprinklers a test run. You don’t want to find out in May that your entire lawn is about to die in the summer heat because your lawn watering system doesn’t work. In early spring, give your sprinklers a go to make sure they’re still operating normally. You want some time to get it fixed before the warmest weather hits and you’re stuck manually watering your entire lawn.
6. Change Your Filters (All of Them!)
Your air filters, dehumidifier filters, and purifier filters could all use some attention. Spring is a good time to take care of it. You don’t want to kick on your A/C for the first time and pump a bunch of allergens right into your home. While you’re at it, clean out your vacuum filters and give your window screens a good cleaning.
Spring cleaning not only keeps you healthier, but it can help you preserve the value of your home. An issue like foundation cracks or a broken air conditioner will scare away plenty of buyers.
If you’re trying to get rid of a property but you can’t afford the necessary repairs your spring cleaning reveals, you may want to consider moving away from a traditional sale. Working with a company like California Family Home Buyers means you can sell your home as-is. We have purchased homes in every condition — including those that can’t pass a spring cleaning checklist inspection. Give us a call today to see if we can help you get out of your property! We may be able to close as soon as one week from now.